Lafton Thompson: Stellar Norristown athlete remembered

“Brian Piccolo left a great many loving friends who miss and think of him often. But when they think of him, it’s not how he died that they remember — but how he lived. How he did live!”

-Coach George Halas in the 1971 movie Brian’s Song based on the real-life relationship between teammates Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers and the bond established when Piccolo discovers that he is dying of cancer.

NORRISTOWN — Lafton Thompson did live.

He lived a life that little boys in Norristown dream about when they shoot hoops on the courts next to Latchshaw Field. They may pretend they are Michael Jordan, but deep down they know how unattainable that is.

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Instead, they imagine pulling on a blue and white jersey and spending their winters dropping 3-pointers in a raucous gym at Norristown Area School.

Lafton Thompson did live with the Halas added exclamation point. When those same boys grew tired of their basketball games, it was time for touch football. They play in the grassy patch in front of Roosevelt hoping to run for touchdowns in high school on the bigger field behind it. Cousins and neighbors earned the opportunity to play under the Roosevelt field lights and maybe they could, too. They start out in Pee Wee as Bandits, but they dream of being Eagles; strapping on the pads with the hopes of Friday night gridiron glory.

Thompson, a basketball and football star at Norristown High School, earned a scholarship to Temple where he became a four-year letterman and two-year starter at safety.

He lived the dream of little boys not only across the borough of Norristown, but across the country.

Life doesn’t adhere to the rules of football, which guarantees four quarters and referees to insure fair play. The only guarantee is an eventual death.

For Lafton Thompson, that came on Jan. 28 at his home in Norristown after a two and a half year battle with cancer.

Land of hope and dreams

Thompson and his family emigrated from Kingston, Jamaica, when he was 4.

He began playing football in seventh grade at East Norriton Middle School. Naturally gifted at football, he had to work harder at basketball, which he did eventually grabbing the attention of Tom McGee, former Norristown basketball coach during the summer before 9th grade.

“I said to my assistant coach who was with me, ‘That kid’s going to be a starting varsity guard for the next four years. He can’t miss,’” McGee recalled predicting while watching Thompson in a summer league game.

What could a 14-year-old do to cause a coaching veteran make such a bold prediction?

“His intensity at both ends of the floor and attention to detail. He was able to anticipate plays extremely well,” said McGee.

Thompson’s athletic ability began to spread well beyond the state borders. Five to 10 letters a day from colleges began to arrive at his home during his sophomore year.

“He was just a laid back guy who wanted to keep playing sports,” said his older brother Jeff Thompson, himself a standout basketball player at Norristown, of the attention Lafton received.

The 1995 football season for the Norristown Eagles was filled with extreme expectations and grief.

In December 1994, senior fullback/linebacker Jeff Butler, The Times Herald defensive player of the year, was killed in a car crash. The Eagles where ranked No. 1 in state preseason polls due to a talented, experienced team. Namely tailback Daymon Carroll who was being heavily recruited namely by Florida, Penn State and Nebraska.

“Lafton was definitely a physical player. I thought he was a tremendous athlete with great skills to play multiple sports,” said Carroll. “He was a baller — someone you never had to worry about showing up. The only thing I hoped he learned from me was being relentless every moment. That means to take advantage of every opportunity. He definitely did that.”

Thompson responded to the high hopes in the opening game by registering an interception during an opening win against West Chester Henderson. The Eagles faced their biggest test early in a week three matchup against perennial powerhouse CB West coached by the legendary Mike Pettine. The 21-7 loss dropped them to No.4 in state polls.

The Eagles bounced back, trouncing Bensalem with Thompson gaining 122 yards and rushing for his first touchdown of the season.

CB East handed Norristown their second loss of the season putting their postseason hopes in serious doubt. Two weeks later they held on to beat Truman 7-0 with the help of a timely Thompson-induced forced fumble.

The season’s final game on Nov. 4, 1995, signaled the end of a season with unfilled expectations, but also one of Thompson’s most memorable days.

After Carroll, Thompson strained his knee and ankle, but stepped in to rush for 95 yards on 22 carries with two touchdowns. It wasn’t enough, as the Eagles lost the contest 14-13.

“He had a heck of game. What a fantastic job,” said Joe Shannon, then the North Penn head coach. “He’s a good back who would be starting if he played anywhere else.

“I don’t think they missed a beat offensively.”

Carroll rushed for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns, eventually deciding to attend the University of Florida.

“Lafton was the quintessential model of a teammate who led by example,” said quarterback A.J. Niedosik. “He was never the type of person to get in someone’s face or engage in a lot of screaming and yelling in order to get his point across. Instead he worked hard every day and did his job to the best of his ability. He always gave 100 percent and would leave every ounce of effort he could muster on the field.”

Hitting the hardwood

Thompson started on the basketball team as a freshman. His humble, team-first attitude and smooth baseline pull-up jumper quickly earned him the acceptance of his teammates. Defensive skills, loyalty and work ethic endeared him to coaches.

“He had this raw athleticism. A relentless defender,” said Sean Tuggle, a senior when Thompson was a freshman, who returned the following year as an assistant coach. “We had to convince him to play more aggressive. He never wanted to seem selfish and was just the ultimate team player.”

The 1995 basketball season held much more reasonable, albeit high expectations after a 19-9 season topped with a Suburban One Colonial Division crown.

“There is no question he’s our leader. You want the ball in his hands in clutch situations,” said McGee. “He’s very versatile. We need him on the court to be successful.”

Thompson responded averaging 16 points per game (9th overall in the area) on a deep Eagles team that finished the regular season 17-7. In an opening round playoff blowout over Methacton, Thompson exploded for 25 points propelling his career total to the 1,000-point mark. He reached the milestone on a rise and pop 3-pointer from the right side. At the time, he was the fourth player in twelve years to reach the plateau which included his brother Jeff (1990).

“I had no idea I was close. I was a little shaky after that. It was relief when I got the basket,” said Thompson who missed two shots before hitting the trey.

“Lafton earned the chance to reach 1,000 today. He had scored so many big baskets,” said McGee. “It’s good to see kids like him reach that kind of plateau. He brings so much to the table and isn’t just about offense. He passes the ball, rebounds and does it all.”

The Eagles defeated Glen Mills, 80-76, in the second round with Thompson scoring 23 points. The victory gave them a quarterfinal date with Lower Merion, a team that featured current Los Angeles Laker and future NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant.

Thompson came alive in the fourth quarter with four free throw makes and a pair of baskets to put Norristown ahead by six with five minutes to play. The Eagles eventually fell to the Aces 60-55.

“We are crushed right now,” said McGee. “I thought we had them. We were right there with them. Things just fell apart down the stretch.”

McGee still remembers the packed gymnasium, preparing special defenses for Bryant who would enter the NBA draft after graduating high school and how close to victory the Eagles came.

“We outplayed and outcoached them,” said McGee. “If we won that game we would have had the momentum and as good a chance as any at a state title.”

In the consolation round, the Eagles earned their first trip to the state playoffs in four years with a 57-50 win over Bensalem. The experience was short-lived as they were immediately eliminated by Harrisburg, 77-49, with Thompson being held scoreless. Thompson and few members of the team were battling illness, causing him to play sparingly.

A will and a way

After a mediocre 2-3 start to his senior year football campaign, Thompson erupted for 162 yards in a win against Bensalem and three touchdowns nearly equaling his season output of 187 yards.

The win stood as the highlight of the season as the Eagles lost to CB East 31-8 and Council Rock 3-0.

“We can’t catch a break,” said Grove.

In 48-6 drubbing of Truman on Senior Night, Thompson ended his high school career fittingly by scoring a touchdown.

As a defensive back, Grove lauded Thompson’s aggressiveness, physicality and ability to deliver a hit.

“Lafton was the kid that came in and worked and was very physical aside from being very athletic and talented,” said Grove. “He had a great will and wanted to succeed.”

Thompson shared the load in the backfield with Will Gant finishing the season with 858 yards and 11 touchdowns.

He earned first-team Times Herald All-Area and All-League honors.

The proving ground

Thompson’s senior basketball season started out to a promising 7-3 start. The Eagles’ campaign gained more steam after defeating cross-town rival Kennedy-Kenrick in a thrilling 59-56 win to claim The Triangle Club Holiday Tournament. Thompson was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Tragedy once again struck the Norristown community on Jan. 3, 1997, when Omar Jenkins, Curtis Lever and Kamal Stevens, three former basketball players, were killed on I-76 in Lower Merion. The loss of Jenkins, a 1996 grad, hit Thompson especially hard since he had played both football and basketball with him the previous years.

“Lafton just started crying,” said McGee upon discovering his downtrodden team learning the news. “Omar was the spiritual leader of our team, always leading us in prayers before the game.”

With heavy hearts and distracted minds, the Eagles lost three straight games. Thompson ended the slide with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals in a 50-47 win over Bensalem.

“We were going to win this game. We weren’t going to lose,” Thompson said after.

In a win over CB West, Thompson dropped a season high 25 points, improving the Eagles’ record to 14-9.

Thompsons was honored prior to Senior Night for being selected as a nominee for the McDonalds All-American game. He proved worthy of the high honor by scoring 18 points in 54-51 loss to Abington.

“I didn’t know about that. It really surprised me,” said Thompson of the pregame surprise. “I owe it to my team. They made it possible and my coaches.”

The No. 17 seed Eagles opened the playoffs with a 70-37 blowout of Upper Dublin with Thompson again scoring 18 points. They were ousted 79-60 in the second round by top-seeded, and eventual State champion, Plymouth Whitemarsh.

“We gave it one hell of an effort but we just didn’t have enough weapons,” said McGee. PW’s loaded lineup featured John Salmons, who eventually played for the Philadelphia Sixers and oter NBA teams.

McGee remembers Thompson’s basketball career vividly; he was, after all, the soon-to-be ninth grader that McGee projected as a can’t-miss four-year starter.

“He proved me right. Not many can say they started their entire career for program like Norristown. He meant a lot to my coaching career there. In 30 years of coaching no one had a more perpetual drive and wanted to compete more than Lafton.”

Signature smile

The humble Thompson was as popular with the student body as he was with his teammates. Always wearing his signature ear-to-ear smile, Thompson never acted like a big man on campus. He even earned accolades off the field winning mock awards during his senior banquet for “Best Smile,” “Most Athletic” and “Best Looking.”

“He was never arrogant. When you met him, what wasn’t there to love? He was always a great, loyal friend,” said Stephanie Wise, a three sport star and classmate of Thompson who shared Top Athlete honors awarded by the Athletic Department in 1997.

Thompson narrowed his college choices to Michigan State, NC State and North Carolina.

Nick Saban, then coach at Michigan State, current coach of National Champion Alabama, heavily recruited Thompson.

“Saban said he was one of the better defensive backs he saw that year,” says Grove.

Thompson eventually chose NC State, but never attended due to a just-short SAT score. Instead, he attended Hargrave Academy.

The next level

Thompson attended Temple under Proposition 48, which allows student athletes to attend college classes to prove they can successfully fulfill grade requirements and maintain a class schedule. If the first year is completed successfully, they are eligible for a scholarship and granted four years of eligibility.

During his freshman year he appeared in all 11 games, registering 25 tackles.

“I would try to watch him whenever I could on TV. I would be in front of the screen telling my Florida teammates how good he is. I am extremely proud of him,” said Carroll.

Thompson started at strong safety his junior and senior years at Temple. As a four-year letter winner he finished his career registering 183 tackles. 21.5 for loss, nine break-ups, five interceptions, and three forced fumbles.

“He was a soft spoken, athletic young man. Very respectful and always did what we asked of him. He had a nice career at Temple,” said Nick Rapone, who coached defensive backs at Temple and is now the secondary coach with the Arizona Cardinals.

“Lafton was very versatile and very dependable, which you had to be to play for our coach (Rapone),” said Fulton Fryar, who played in the secondary with Thompson. “Free safety was the most important piece in our secondary. Lafton was one the most dependable guys I knew; he would have my back in every situation.

Thompson left college twelve credits short of a degree in Sociology to prepare for the NFL draft. An injury at a pre-draft combine and reluctance to play overseas ended his football career.

“It was more than just us playing football. We became brothers for life,” said Fryar.

The end game

Thompson was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2010. Doctors gave him two weeks to live, due to his kidneys failing on Jan. 23. Three days later, visitors filled a row home in Norristown. They were reluctant to call it a goodbye, and a few held hope he would recover. A lean but solid 6-2, 195 pounds during his playing days, Thompson earned the nickname “Lion Heart” for his tenacity and physicality.

Cancer is one of the most feared words in the English language. It doesn’t discriminate on age or race. No one is immune.

Despite the sadness and uncertainty, the Thompsons opened their door to each visitor offering warm hugs as relatives cooked in the kitchen while sharing happy memories of Lafton.

Amid frigid temperatures, over sixty people gathered on Marshall Street for a rally for the ailing Thompson. Aside from prayers, a loud cheering ovation was given to the former sports star. Shortly after the applause ended, a relative emerged from the house and announced Thompson had heard the cheers.

“He gave us a reason to cheer then and we want to cheer him again. He is one of Norristown’s sons,” said Buck Jones, friend of Thompson, to the crowd.

After the rally, Thompson’s mother told Jones he gave her a thumbs-up signal.

“Maybe that was a way of saying good-bye. He was going to be O.K.,” said Jones. “That’s what I’m going to believe.”

Members of the Norristown community came together not to witness a sporting event with the possibility of being amazed as they so often were when Thompson suited up.

Instead, they voiced their support for him and his family. The act moved Thompson, who later that evening grew emotional at the thought.

“He was tearing up telling me, ‘I am overwhelmed that so many people would come out for one man and that man is me,’” said Orinthea Beepot, Thompson’s sister. “My brother always dreamt of being a star and a celebrity.”

Thompson passed away at home on Wednesday, Jan. 25, leaving behind two children — daughter Kendal, 8, and son Lance, 2.

“The world has lost a special individual. His unique ability to connect with various types of people on a very real level was extremely uncommon. He will be missed dearly by everyone that had the opportunity to know him,” said Niedosik.

“Part of my heart is hurt, yet full. I know he got to do things that many wish they had a chance to. You were going to get everything he had, not just in games but in life itself,” said Carroll.